COMMERCIAL van sales are forging ahead with British Car Auctions recording record sales during January.

Demand has been bolstered by a strong end to last year and BCA saw a record 302 sales at its Measham Commercials centre during the third week in January.

During the first two weeks of the year at the same centre, the group achieved a 100% conversion for Royal Mail and BT Fleet.

The group's Blackbushe depot also recorded large sales, achieving 160% above CAP clean in some cases.

BCA says demand for Luton-bodied vehicles and box vans remains strong alongside car-derived vans, drop-sides and tippers.

The group has also noticed an increase in the number of vans being offered with the correct paperwork such as the logbook.

A BCA spokesman said: 'Across the board, 95% of all vehicles at BCA are sold complete with the V5 documentation. Two years ago it was around 65%.'

Examples of recent BCA sales include a 1998 Mercedes Sprinter 308D LWB for £4,000, 164% of CAP clean, and a 1999 Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 800 Td 4dr for £4,900, 143% of CAP clean.